Major scholarships often require you to have excellent academic performance (high GPA), good standardized test scores, and especially impressive extracurricular activities.
Instead of going to extra classes, she spent time in the library, searching for materials online, and learning from her seniors. She understood that starting low does not mean losing.
Many international students have difficulty communicating with locals, from shopping, asking for directions to handling administrative procedures. Differences in regional accents can also be a hindrance.
